The Tourism Society - People in all the right places

At The Tourism Society 6th Annual Media Masterclass in association with Travmedia the predominantly based PR audience were told that they should be proud of their profession which they are currently not.

In an exciting speech, John Bell shook the crowd by telling them that: ‘PRs shouldn’t be frightened of losing their clients by not selling every story they are sent.’ Instead he advised they should speak to their clients and tell them what is truly newsworthy.

The event focusing on online media included well known speakers David Prest Radio Broadcaster, Lyn Hughes, Editor-in-chief, Wanderlust, Charlotte Walsh, Web Editor, Travel Trade Gazette, John Bell, Freelance Travel Writer, Steve Keenan, Editor, Times Online and Chairman Henry Hemming, Managing Director TravMedia.

LR The Panel: Steve Keenan, Charlotte Walsh, Lyn Hughes, John Bell, David Prest

Although online press for some, may not yet have the same prestige as printed, the readership figures show that it reaches a larger and more interactive audience, Steve Keenan pointed out, confirming that timesonline/travel.co.uk has double the readership than that of the Sunday Times.

Top tips included:
•    ‘Podcasting’ is a way of engaging an interesting and different message to the masses. David Prest advised.
•    Lyn Hugues went on to comment “for a magazine face to face meetings are the most popular way to place a feature.”
•    “Once uploaded on the website the story will be up there forever. Subsequent stories are linked back to older ones if they are related, increasing readership.” Online stories can generate debate added Charoltt Walsh.
•    “Twitter is a powerful tool, which can get the news out instantly, however if the news is bad for your brand you have to be there to defend yourself.” Bell concluded.

Alison Cryer, Tourism Society Chairman commented ‘’this event is a vital part of the Society’s calendar as our members recognise the huge importance of PR in tourism; a highly fragmented industry made up of small businesses who often do not have the budget for large-scale campaigns. This is just one of many excellent events that the Society organises nationwide for our 1100 members across all sectors.’

The event attended by nearly 100 PR professionals was sponsored by and held in the Winston Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, in the bunker where the Prime Minister planned his tactics during the war.

-ENDS-
 

This press release can also be viewed at www.travmedia.com.

For further information, please contact:
Daniel Moriss-Jeffery Tel: 020 8661 4636 daniel@tourimsociety.org  www.tourismsociety.org

Note to editors:

The Tourism Society (est.1977) is the leading network of professionals in the industry. All sectors are represented: hotels, attractions, destinations, operators, travel companies, writers, academics, students and consultants.

TravMedia.com is the world’s leading online travel news distribution service for the media.
Visit www.travmedia.com for more information.